Tube closing machine



Oct. 1934. c. J. WESTIN TUBE CLOSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1932 3Sheets-$heet l Charles B? m m w flTTOF/VE) Get. 9, 1934.

C. J. WESTIN v TUBE CLOSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Oct 9, 1934..

C. J. WESTIN TUBE CLOSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 4, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 aearlea ar damn,

Watented @ct. 1934 roar onosnve Mao Charles .H. Westin, Philadelphia,Pa, assignor to F. .l. Stokes Machine Company, Fadelpa, 1 lPa., acorporation or Pennsylvania Application August 4, 1932, Serial No.627,457

13 Claims.

'This invention relates to mechanism for closing collapsible tubes withthe newtype of closure popularly known as the clipless closure. Thistype of tube is also known as the tube with the integral clip and iscovered by Patent No. 1,852,225, granted to me on April 5, 1932.

The machine is similar in construction and operation to machinerymanufactured previously but in order to produce the type of closurereferred to, certain modifications and improve-' ments have been made.It also embodies certain new features and improvements which are theresult of years of experience and developmental work.

Formerly, a separate metal clip was used to reenforce the closure of thetubes. This separate piece of metal is now replaced by a similar clipmade from the flat tube walls themselves. The economy effected by a clipproduced in this manner is apparent as it eliminates the separatelymanufactured clip,

A feature of my invention consists in the provision of a reciprocatingfolder shoe adapted to fold the end of a tube in either direction of itsmovement.

A further feature of my. invention consists inthe provision of a liftingmeans for the tube synchronized with the closer jaws providing means forlifting the tube to two or more different levels in relationship to thefolding and closing mechanism.

Yet another feature is a folder shoe pivotally mounted on one of thecloser jaws and movable to fold the end of a'tube projecting frombetween the jaws or movable into position between said. jaws to fold theend of a tube against one of the aws.

My invention includes a tube closing or sealing method of the characterhereinafter described.

My invention also resides in the method hereinafter described whichgenerically is similar to that described inmy aforesaid patent. I

For a further exposition of my invention refer= 9 ence may be had to theannexed drawings and specification at the end whereof my invention. willbe specifically pointed out and claimed.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of the end of a tube with parts broken awayvertically.

. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the open end of a tube ready for folding withdotted lines showing the parts after the initial fold. Figs. 3 to 14,inclusive, are detail views in vertical cross sections of parts of themachine and tube in the successive positions which they occupy duringthe folding operation.

Fig. 15 is a side view of the end of a tube with parts broken awayvertically after the fold. has been made.

Fig. 16 is a side view with; parts in vertical cross section of parts ofthe machine.

Fig. 17 is a plan view of parts of the machine.

Fig. 18 is an end view of parts of the machine.

Fig. 19 is a'vertical cross section on line 19-19,

the flattened portion of the tube extends a certain distance above thefaces of the jaws 1 and 2, as seen in Fig. 3, which distance isdetermined by the width of the fold desired.

As seen inFig. 3, folder shoe 3 is at a point over closer jaw 2 andmoves to the right over the tube bending this fiat against the top faceof the jaw 1 as indicated in Fig. 4. At this stage closing jaw 1 movesaway to the right from 2, allowing folder shoe 3 to drop down andcontinue the bending of the tube as indicatedin Fig. 5. The first folddescribed in the patent as an inturned end portiontermina1 bend or tuck,is completed, as shown in Fig. 6, by jaw Lmoving to the left. Now jaws 1and 2 open and the tube is lifted up between them as shown Up to.thispoint the method of folding and handling the tube is identical withthe method used in producing the old double fold. Where in the old typeof fold the distance which the tube was lifted above the jaws wouldbeequal to the width of the. first fold, it is in this case lifted twicethe width ofthe first fold above the jaws, as shown in Fig. 7. Theportion of the tube extending above the jaw is then bent over inv asimilar manner to operation shown in Fig. 4, but a difference will benoticed by observing Fig. 8. The results obtained by continuing thebending operation or the fold until the terminal fold of Fig. 6 is flatagainst the standing part of the tube is shown in Fig. 9 andFig. 10. Itshould be noted at this point that the folder shoe 3 was in a positionover jaw 2 when starting the two folds just described and made the foldswhile moving from left to right.- In Fig. 10, however, the folder shoe 3is over jaw 1 when the tube is lifted for its third position and as thefolder shoe moves to the left, as shown in Fig. 12, it bends the thusfar finished portion of the fold back on top of jaw 2, thus reversingthe fold so far made and producing the intermediate reverse bend or tuckreferred to in the claims of the patent. Continuing the bendingoperation, as indicated in Fig. 13, completes the closure as shown inFig. 14.

One of the new and novel features in the invention consists in usingfolder shoe 3 to perform the folding operation .in twooppositedirections. I do not, however, intend to be limited to the use of theone folder shoe as it is both feasible and i closure the bends and foldswere all made in the same direction as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 7 and 8 andv the inturned bent portion is approximately level l the sake ofdescription 8. round table is shown the first series of folds wererepeatedv a second time to produce the old double fold. In Figs. 7, 8, 9and 10 (the second series of bends) the same identical method andsequence of operationiis followed to this point in making the integralclip, excepting that the tube as shown in Fig. 7 extends higher in orderto make this bend approximately twice as long as the old standard one.

The third series of bends begins by placing folder shoe 3 in a positionover closer jaw 1, Figs. 10 and 11 when thetube is lifted up the desireddistance, which in this case would be equal to the width of the closure.It will be noted that i the single or second fold is in such a positionthat with the face of the closer jaw which is assumed to be about thecenter of the single mm.- As the folder shoe 3 slides from right to leftit bends the second or single fold over onto closer jaw 2,Fig. 12.Closer 2 moves .out of the way permitting folder 3 to drop down betweenthe closers, but this time on theopposite side of the tube to that ofthe first and second bends, continuing the bending as in Fig. 13. Thetuck and closure is finished as shown in Fig. 14. Thus, as describedabove, the reverse bend or-tuck specified in the various claims of thepatent is taken in the side of and pressed or flattened against theopposite side of the standing part of the tube while the 'inturned endportion is flat against the other side, providing an even number offolds each sideof the standing part of the tube, as is shown in Fig. 15.

. Fig. 16 shows the complete machine in which 41 is a table having astep-by-step movement. For

which has av revoluble step-by-step movement in the direction indicatedby the arrow. -In place of this table or dial 41 any type of conveyor,such as a belt may be used having provision to receive and carry thetube A. The tubes A or a proa pulley for belt drive. Dial 41 is keyed tohub of bevel gear 38 and is adjustable up and down for longer or shortertubes. It is ordinarily at a level which places the tube, when conveyedbetween the closer jaws l and 2, in the position shown at Fig. 3.Located at the closing and folding station under the dial is a lifter 40which is operated by a cam 28 through a lever 29 so as to lift the tubecup 42 off its seat on dial 41 and place the tube A in the positionshown in Fig. .7 and Fig. 11. Lifter 40 thus will take three distinctivepositions in. relationship to the folder jaws, the first position beingas shown in Fig. 16 when Out-'. of1 the way'to permit the dial to rotatein placing tubes between the folder jaws. The lifter is adjustable toconform with the elevation of dial 41 and the length of tube by thecapscrew in collar 39. V

The closer jaw 1 is connected to a bell lever 22 through link 21. Thebell lever 22 is connected through link 23 to plunger 24 which isoperated by cam 25, mounted on shaft 33. closer jaws 1 and 2 aresupported in the housing 13 by slideways indicated at 18 and held inplace by the gibs 20. On closer jaw 2 is mounted the folder shoe 3 insuch a way that by means'of the fulcrum 14 it swivels on this fulcrumand-will tip down between the folder jaws as indicated in Figs. 5, 9 and13 when these parts take the proper relationship for this movement. Theconnection to the cam 12 controlling the movement of the folder shoe 3and closer jaw 2 isthrough link 7, bell lever .8, link 9 and plunger10." Fulcrum 14 is part of sliding block 19 which is housedin a recessof closing jaw 2. The closer jaw 2 is pressed forward against jaw 1 bythe combined action of springs 16 and 17 unless its movement is limitedby lever 26 controlled by cam 27. Spiral spring 17 serves four purposes:First, 'its action is combined with that of spring 16 in forcing jaw 2forward to close the open end of the tube and press the folds "and thetucks tight against the standing part of the tube; second, regardless ofthe force exerted by the bell lever 8 through folder 3 and slide 19 onjaw 2 through spring 17, it allows for the V3.1i'. ations in wallthickness or number of folds placed between jaws 1 and 2; third, in viewof the position of fulcrum, 14 in. relation to hell lever link 7 and theconnection between link 7 and folder shoe 3, spring 17 has a tendency tohold the face 6 of the folder 3 down on the face of closers 1 and 2 atall times, and, if the support of one of the closers is withdrawn fromunder it, the closer jaw will swing on fulcrum 14. so that face 6 dropsdown to perform its function between the jaws; four, spring 17,providing a yieldable connection, permits the withdrawal of jaw 2 bylever 26 without disturbing the relative position of folder 3 exceptingfor its swiveling action. Spring 16 could be eliminated'by providing a.rigid connection between jaw 2 and lever 26 and controlling the actionoflever 26 by means of a closed cam, but the use of a spring makes asimpler and more flexible arrangement.

On folder shoe 3 is fastened a hardened shoe which is recessed along thegreater portion of its bottom face 6, only leaving. narrow ribs at theextreme ends for supporting the, shoe. The edges of the recess areprovided with rounded corners and are of a depth found throughexperience to give the desired pressing or ironing effect on the tube infolding it without any danger of shearing oil the tube or squeezing ittoo tight, which would weaken the walls at this point. On the other handthe relationship between the power of spring 17 and the connection oflink 7 with fulcrum marshes pressureof a yielding nature for pressing oriron-.

ing the fold, but at the same time allows for the variation inthicknesses of folds or the number of folds passing through the recess.The ribs 5 on shoe 4 are inclined upward from face 6 to permit .the'folder to drop between the closer jaws at the proper moment, but on theother hand these extensions of shoe 4 serve the purpose of a safetydevice and act as cams to lift the folder if the closer should cometogether while the folder is dropped between the two closers. Theswiveling motion of folder 3 is limited on the one side by face 15 andon, the other'side of the fulcrum by face 15A.

All the cams which control the movement of the closing and foldingmechanism are mounted on shaft No. 33 which is driven through spiralgears 31 and'32 from the main drive shaft 34 and are thus timed andsynchronized with the inter mittent step-by-step motion of the dial ortable This closing machine may be an independent unit receiving filledtubes froma filling machineon the one side and delivering closed tubesto a cor:

rugating machine on the other side. The natural and more efficientarrangement, however, is to,

make it a part of a complete machine in which the described mechanismwould only be a small attachment of a machine also provided with fillingand corrugating In a complete machine of that type, empty tubes wouldbeplaced in the cup 42 of table 41, conveyed past the flll ing unitreceiving their charge of material, then passedthroughthe closingmechanism and the corrugating attachment, and finally ejected as acompleted product. 1

-I do not intend to be limited in the practice of my invention save asthe scope of the prior art and of the attached claims may require.

Iclaim: U

1. In a machine of the type described, means for conveying a pluralityof tubes having open that position, means to make a reverse bend orends, means for closing the open ends of the tubes, means for making aninturned end, means for bending the standing part? of the tube adistance equal to twiceor approximately twice the desired width of foldover on the one side and pressing the inturned end against \that 'sideof the standing part of the tube, means for lifting the tube apredetermined distance-or about half of the fold just made and clampingthe tube in tuck in the flattened and folded part of the tube, means forreleasing the tube from the clamped position and continuing the bendingof the tuck thus taken, and means to finish the reverse bend byflattening it against the side of the tube.

2. In a tube closing machine of the type described, the combination of:means for conveying a'plurality of tubes having open ends, means forclosing the open ends of said tubes and for clamping the flattenedportion of the tube between,

the closing means, means to bend and double on itself a portion of theflattened tube a distance approximately equal to the finished closure,

means torelieve the tube from its clamped posit 7 ing means, means forflattening the open endstion and elevate thetube a distance equal toapproximately twice the width of a finished closure against the closingmeans towards the side where the terminal end is bent and flattened,means to continue the bending-' action to complete the single fold andflattening the terminal end against the standing part of the tube, meansto relieve the tube from its clamped position'and elevate the tube adistance equal to thefinished closure and clamp the tube in thatposition, means to bend the single .fold of the tube in a reversedirection against the closer and clamping jaw, and means to continue thebending until a tuck is made and folded tightly against the side orstanding part of thetube opposite to the side which has the terminalbend.

3. In a machine of the type described, means for conveying a tubethrough the machine, a pair of reciprocating closer jaws mountedadjacent the level of the end of said tube, means for reciprocating saidcloser jaws to clamp said tube therebetween and to release said tube, afolder shoe mounted adjacent said jaws,means for actuating said shoe tofold a portion of said tube projecting from said jaws while clamped, andmeans operating in timed relation to said jaws for moving said shoebetween one of said jaws and the tube in contact with a fold to continuebending and for thereafter moving said shoe between the other timedrelation to said block for effecting pivotal movement of the shoe tomove it between one of said jaws and the tube in contact with a fold forone stroke of the blockand to move it between the other of said jaws andthe tube in contact with another fold for another stroke of said block.

5. A tube closing machine comprising tube conveying means, means forfiatteningthe open ends of tubes carried by said conveying means, meansfor bending the flattened end portionof each of said tubes at aplurality of spaced points to produce a plurality of adjacent folds, andmeans for bending said flattened end portion between the bends definingsaid folds to form one or more folds overlying each side of the unfoldedflattened end portion, said last-named three means including commonclamping and folding elements.

6. A tube closing machine comprising tube conveying means, means forflattening the open ends of tubes carried by said-conveying means, meansfor bending the flattened end portion of each of said tubes at aplurality of spaced points to produce a plurality of adjacent foldssubstantially on one side of the unfolded flattened end portionof saidtube, and means for bending said flattened 'end portion between thebends defining said folds to bring one or more of said folds on theopposite side of the unfolded flattened end portion, said last-namedthree means including common clamping and folding elements.

7. A tube closing machine comprising conveyof tubescar'ried by saidconveying means, means for bending the flattened end portion .of each ofsaid tubes at points spaced from the open end thereof by distancessubstantially equal, respectively, to the width of the finished fold andto three times said width toproduce a pair of adjacent folds, 'andmeansfor bending said flattened end portion substantially'midway between thebends defining said folds to form equal folds on each side-of theunfolded flattened end portion, said last-named three means includingcom- 5 mon clamping and folding elements. a

8. A tube closing-machine comprising tube conveying means, means forflattening the openends of tubes carried by said conveying means, meansfor bending the flattened end-portion of each of said tubes at aplurality of i spaced points in the same direction to form a pluralityof adjacent folds, and means for bending in: the opposite direction saidflattened end portion between the bends defining said=folds, whereby oneor more folds are formed on both sides of the unfolded flattened endportion, said last-named three means including common clamping andfolding elements. I

V 9. A tube closing machine comprising tube conveying means, means forflattening the open ends of tubes carried by said conveying means, meansforfolding oven thesflattened end portion of each of said tubes, means\for refolding in the same direction a portion of said flattened endportion substantially twice the length of the first fold, and means forfolding in the reverse direction said refolded portion at the centerthereof, said last-named four means including common clamping andfolding elements.

10. A tube closing"maehine comprising tube conveying means, means forflattening the open ends of tubes carried by said conveying means, meansfor bending the flattened end portion of each of said tubes, means forraising said tube and retaining *it'inraised position, means for againbending said flattened end portion, means for raising said tube a secondtime and retaining it raisedpositiomand means forbending said flattenedend portion as retained in said second raised position to form-a foldoverlying each side of the unfolded flattened end portion, saidflattening, bending and :retaining means including .common clamping andfolding elements.

' 11. A tube closing machine comprising tube conveying means, meansforfiattening the open ends of tubes can'ied by said conveying means,

means for bending the flattened end portion of each of said tubes toform a fold, means for raising-said tube for a distance substantiallyequal to twice the width of said fold and retaining it in raisedposition, means for again bending said flattened end portion, means forraising said tube a second timeby a distance substantially equal tothewidth of the finished fold and retaining it in raised position, andmeans for bending said flattened end. portion as retained in said secondraised position to form equal folds overlying the sides of the unfoldedflattened end portions, said flattening, bending and retaining-meansincluding common clamping and folding elements.

12. A tube closing machine, comprising tube conveying means, means forflattening the open ends oftubes carried by said conveying means, meansfor bending the flattened end portion of each-of said tubes to form afold, means for raising said tube for a distance substantially equal totwice the width of said fold and retaining it in raised position, meansfor again bending said fiattened end portion in the same direction,means for'raising said tube'a second time by a distance substantiallyequal to the width of the finished fold and retaining it in raisedposition, and means for bending in the reverse direction said flattenedend portion as retained in said second raised position to form equalfolds overlying the sides of the unfolded flattened end portion, saidflattening, nding'and retaining means including common clamping andfolding elements.

13..A tube closing machine comprising tube conveying means, a pair ofcloser jaws, means for operating said closer jaws to clamp said tubetherebetween and to release the same, a folder vshoe, means foractuating said shoe to fold a

